Amazing Grace Cast Information
AMAZING GRACE is a new original musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows the composer and writer, John Newton whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change.
ENGLISH CHARACTERS (six English males, three English females)
1. John Newton
2. Mary Catlett
3. Captain Newton, Ensemble
4. Major Gray, Ensemble
5. Robert Haweis, Mr. Quigley, Ensemble
6. Rabbi Einhorn, Mr. Whitley, Ensemble
7. Captain Billingsley, Monsieur Clow, Prince Frederick, Ensemble
8. Mrs. Catlett, Carlotta, Ensemble
9. Sophie, Ensemble
AFRICAN CHARACTERS (three African males, and three African females)
Ensemble: Princess Peyai’s tribe (3 additional African males and 3 African females)
1. Pakuteh (Thomas), Ensemble
2. Katumah (Nanna), Ensemble
3. Princess Peyai, Ensemble
4. Dembo (Mr. Tyler), Kaamor, Ensemble
5. Yema, Tennah, Ensemble
6. Seaman Fuller, Ensemble
RP-Received Pronunciation
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JOHN NEWTON: (Tenor, Caucasian – 20-30’s) British Dialect (RP) A rebel, who is roguishly attractive. Starts the show arrogant, defiant, and resentful after the early loss of his mother. He turns his back on his musical gifts, and dreams of adventure and profit on the high seas in the slave trade. He is smitten with his childhood friend Mary and longs for a relationship with his aloof and severe father. Through his many trials and tribulations, he transforms into a passionate, selfless man who pens the lyrics to the title song and devotes the rest of his life to abolishing slavery.
MARY CATLETT: (Mezzo-Soprano/Soprano, Caucasian – 20-30’s) British Dialect (RP) – Chatham, England’s own songbird who longs for a career as a concert vocalist, possessing a noble spirit and elegant beauty. Her inquisitive nature and courage lead her to a life of intrigue in the anti-slavery movement. She loves John as a man and as a friend and she never stops seeing the good in him.
PAKUTEH (THOMAS): (Bari-tenor, African/African American – 35 – 60) African Dialect -Resourceful and protective, Thomas has been the house slave of the Newton family since John’s boyhood, effectively raising him after his mother’s death. He possesses a quiet inner strength and patience, which helps him deal with John’s unpredictable and volatile behavior, as well as and his own enslavement.
CAPTAIN NEWTON: (Baritone, Caucasian – 50’s to 60’s) British Dialect (RP) – John’s father, head of the Royal Africa Company, a successful slave-trading empire. Charismatic, authoritative, disciplined, and cool. He is purpose-driven and dreams that his son will rise through education and perhaps become a member of the British Parliament.
KATUMAH (NANNA): (Alto, African/African-American – 30’s to 45) African Dialect – The nurturing, wise and protective house servant of the Catletts. Sold into captivity as a young woman, she is pragmatic, deeply spiritual and has come to love Mary like her own daughter.
MAJOR ARCHIBALD GRAY: (Tenor, Caucasian – 30-45 ) British Dialect (RP) – Gray is fastidious, self-assured and confident to the point of narcissism. His Royal relatives have assured him promotion within the army and he now deals with thorny problems such as the rising tide of abolitionism.
ROBERT HAWEIS: (Bari-tenor, Caucasian – 20-45) British Dialect (RP) – John’s sharp-witted and loyal friend who attended boarding school with him. He now works for Captain Newton on the slave ship, Greyhound.
PRINCESS PEYAI: (Alto, African-American – 30’s to 45) African Dialect – The stunning, charismatic African princess of the Sherbro tribe. Based on an actual person, she is a powerful slave trader who, through an alliance with the French, sells her own people into bondage. Peyai is ambitous, seductive, and ruthless.
ENSEMBLE
MR. QUIGLEY: (Baritone, Caucasian – 40’s -60 ) British Dialect – A founding member of the abolitionist movement in Chatham, Mr. Quigley is intelligent, skeptical and secretive both by nature and necessity.
MR. EINHORN: (Bari-tenor, Caucasian – 40’s-55) German Jewish Dialect – Patient, far-sighted, and prudent, he is a calming influence within the underground abolitionist movement.
MR. WHITLEY: (Tenor, Caucasian – 40’s- 60’s) British Dialect (RP) – Whitley is Mary’s vocal tutor and conductor of both the church choir and town orchestra. He is portly, nervous and eager to have his protégé rise in the world of music.
MONSIEUR CLOW: (Baritone, Caucasian – 40-50’s) French Dialect – Advisor and ally of Princess Peyai. Clow is nationalistic and pragmatic. He manages the Princess through flattery and motivates her with promises of wealth.
CAPTAIN BILLINGSLEY: (Bari-tenor, Caucasian – 40-50’s) Refined British Dialect – Royal Navy Captain of HMS Harwich. An acquaintance of Major Gray. ruthless and conniving, he did not get where he is by making friends.
FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES: (Caucasian – 40- 50’s) British Dialect (RP) – Heir to the throne of Great Britain, Frederick is an aberration in the royal family because he is reform-minded and seeks a Britain less beholding to the landed and merchant classes. Intelligent and insightful, his wit can turn acerbic if he is provoked.
DEMBO (MR. TYLER): (Baritone, African/African-American – 25 to 35) African Dialect – An emancipated African slave he is a secret firebrand for the liberation of his people. Imposing and single minded, he is the most radical of the abolitionists.
MRS. CATLETT: (Caucasian, 40’s to 55) British Dialect (RP) – Mary’s controlling mother. Stolid and traditional, she seeks to preserve the status quo and keep Mary within society’s expectations.
SOPHIE: (Caucasian, 20’s--35’s ) British Dialect (RP) – Mary’s slightly ditzy and fast-talking, eager friend. Enamored with John. Comedienne.
YEMA: (African/African-American, 20’s) African Dialect – Nanna’s daughter, now a domestic slave to Princess Peyai in Africa. She is compassionate, but deeply wounded by the sale of her mother.
CARLOTTA NEWTON: (Caucasian, olive skin) (40’s -55) Italian dialect – Second wife to Captain Newton. John perceives her as a coarse opportunist, on the make and using his father to rise into a higher social standing.
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